The Atlanta Falcons host the Kansas City Chiefs, looking to bounce back with a win against one of the decade’s most successful teams. With the Chiefs in the thick of contention at the top of the AFC, they’re a litmus test for whether the Falcons can knock off another top team and pull off a home upset like they did three weeks ago against San Francisco. Five Falcons will be among the most tested in this matchup.
Michael Penix Jr.
The formidable Chiefs defense will be another big test for Michael Penix, thanks to defensive
coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Spags’ strategy will likely lean on blitzing Penix to exploit his struggles under pressure and using disguised coverages to confuse the young quarterback. For Penix’s evaluation, it’s important to see how he handles one of the NFL’s most challenging defensive schemes and stays poised amid the controlled chaos.
Bijan Robinson
Bijan Robinson, along with the Falcons’ run game, will be tasked with taking pressure off Penix, but will be tested against one of the NFL’s best run defenses. Whatever category you want to measure, whether it’s yards, yards per carry, EPA, or yards before and after contact, the Chiefs rank among the top 10 teams across the board.
Facing four other Top 11-ranked run defenses so far this year, Robinson has averaged 76.5 yards per game and 4.6 yards per carry. That looks impressive at face value, but his success rate in those games was 36 percent, which ranks among the bottom 5 in the NFL, according to NextGenStats. As the NFL’s leading rusher, Robinson has racked up most of his production against lesser defenses, averaging 115 yards per game, 5.6 yards per carry, with a second-ranked 52 percent success rate in his five other outings. Essentially, the numbers show that the quality of competition dictates the Falcons’ success when establishing the run. Given the Chiefs’ stout defense, it’s another huge trial to see whether this trend continues.
Corey Levin
With Ryan Neuzil’s surprising departure at Tuesday’s trade deadline, Corey Levin now has to fill the void at center. The Falcons likely moved Neuzil due to declining play as of late, and expect there to be minimal dropoff to career backup Levin. However, that will be thoroughly tested on Sunday against the Chiefs’ pressure looks and the formidable presence of defensive tackle Chris Jones. One area where Neuzil struggled was with protection calls against various blitzes. Expect Spagnuolo to challenge whether Levin proves an upgrade in that area.
Kendal Daniels
After a solid performance against the 49ers in Divine Deablo’s stead, rookie linebacker Kendal Daniels has been less impactful in the last two games. With Deablo out for this Chiefs game, Daniels will once again be forced to take over the mantle as the leader in the middle of the Falcons’ defense. Even with Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker out of the lineup, the Falcons’ run defense will still be challenged by explosive rookie replacement, Emmett Johnson. With many doubting if Deablo will return to Atlanta in 2027, this is another opportunity to see how ready Daniels is to take over calling the defense.
DeMarcco Hellams
Stepping into the void left by Jessie Bates’ departure will be backup safety, DeMarcco Hellams. Hellams took over for Bates during training camp, when the latter was sidelined with a back injury for multiple weeks. But since then, Hellams has barely seen the field on defense, with just 24 snaps over nine games. However, he’ll see a lot more this week as a starter. Hellams is known for his hard-hitting style, but his biggest challenge against Kansas City may be covering tight end Travis Kelce. Coverage has been Hellams’ biggest vulnerability since arriving in Atlanta, making his assignment against Kelce a trial by fire before the Falcons hit their bye week and potentially reshuffle the secondary.
At 3-6, the Falcons need to pass this high-stakes exam to keep pace in the NFC South playoff race and take some momentum into their bye week. Beating heavyweights like the Chiefs is a trial they’ve already passed in 2026, but they’ll need to do it again to prove it wasn’t a fluke. Can you name other Falcons who will be important in this Week 10 battle?
